Educational and game device



Feb. '15, 1927. 1,617,831

' H. WOLKE EDUCATIONAL AND GAME DEVICE Filed April '7, 1926 mIIW'IUM Z BYdr f A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 15, 1 927.

. UNITED STATES wotxn, or sex rmm'clsco, CALIFORNIA,

ASSIGNOR OF QUE-HAL]? TO FRANK GO'IiSCHE, 01's SANIRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FDUCATIONAL AND GAME DEVICE.

Application filed April 7, 1926. Serial No. 100,281.

This invention relates to an educational and game device in which character bear ng and revolvable disks operate in conjunction with a governor-like appliance for revolving and moving said disks vertically, causing thereby a changeable display of var ous assortments of characters and the ob ect of my invention is to provide an apparatus which may be used either by one or more 1 persons as an educational amusement or game device.

It is especially aimed to provide for children a medium for instructive exercise 1n computation and spelling and which in an interesting and delightful manner may engender a strong incentive to make themselves more quickly familiar with these two prlme objects in elementary educatlon.

Other objects in the same line to which it may accommodate itself will be seen as the description proceeds.

plan view with the cover Figure 7 is a bottomperspective view of the cover.

A low cylindrical casing 1 with a fixed center pin 2 and a perforated top piece or cover 3 serve as a; housing for the operating parts, consisting in the main of a governorlike mechanism 4, cooperating disks5, and a circular series of rectangular teeth 6 projecting downwardly from the inner central portion of the top-plece 3.

The governor-l1ke mechanism 4 comprises a hollow stem 7 holding at its lower end a cross piece 8 having two swinging levers 9 pivoted on the ends thereof at 10. The outer end of each lever 9 carries a weight 11 and the inner ends thereof are recessed at 12 to receive the stem 7 therein. The top part of the hollow stem 7 projects- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the deand is preferably knurled to facilitate a better finger hold. The lower part 13 of the stem 7 serves as a central and axial guide for the disks 5 which may slide up and down as well as revolve thereon. A hole is provided in the inner end of the stem 7 to serve as a bearing for the pin 2 on which the stem rotatably rests. This portion 13 of the stem is also somewhat eccentric whereby to move the disks 5 in the manner hereinafter described.

The lower end of stem 7 is reduced to form a square faced shoulder of sufficient length to hold the cross piece 8, a flat tension spring 14, and a washer 15. The spring 14 presses the cross piece 8 against the shoulder of stem 7 and holds the stem and cross piece just firmly enough together to permit a partial frictional yielding.

When at rest the weights 11 of, levers 9 cause the inner ends of the levers to hold a disk 16 in raised position, thereby holding the disks 5 against the top 3.

-A small washer 17 is mounted on the stem 7 just beneath the cover 3. The hole through this washer is large enough to receive the upper concentric portion of the stem but not large enough to slip over the eccentric portioin 13. This washer therefore acts as a stop, limiting the upward movement of the stem off the pin2.

Each disk 5v has a central hole fitting over the stem 7 and a plurality of holes 18 arranged concentrically and uniformly therearound. A plurality of characters are placed adjacent the margin of each disk, these characters being arranged uniformly and in a definite arrangement to the holes 18. The nature of such characters may be any kind of mark or sign, letter, figure, picture, printed matter or whatever may be adaptable for some kind, of scheme or game appropriate to the apparatus.

The disks taking their each other, with regard to the display of these characters, are reduced in diameter from the bottom up successively, thus jointly forming an unobstructed character display of all the disks. Quite a variety of material such as paper, celluloid, or thin sheet-metal may be employed in making these disks. Instead of using opaque disks, it is also quite through a central opening in top piece 3 I place ontop of sets of di material, in this case the disk diameter in regard with the character display is of much less im ortance. For certain occasions, as in com ination pictures and the like, such transparent and opaciue disks could be convenientl used to et er. As an apparatus of this (1 will end itself to a variety of ames and plays where other and different display characters might be required, it would be ossible to have interchangeable that could be replaced with others not desired. Another way of multiplying such characters would be to utilize both disk faces and make such disks re operating. with and engaging in the holes.

18. The size of these lugs is determined by the size ofholes 18 through which they should 'pass quite freely and their lengthv should be sufiicient to reach through all of.

disks 5 as shown in Fig. 4. A sim le way to produce these lugs is to bend t em up from a formed metal stamping resembling a toothed disk and crimping the upturned edge of the central hole over the central opening in the top cover as shown at '20.

The top 3 is also provided with a lurality of window openings 21 locate at definite positions therearound. The characters are adapted to show through these openin s as illustrated in Fig. 1 and hereinafter escribed. Ordinarily, when theaparatus is at rest, all the lugs 6 are seated in the position holes 18 and the top windows and respective disk characters register with each other.

In operating the device, the governor mechanism is given a spin in the manner of a top. The weights 11 thereupon move outwardly by centrifugal force, and the inner ends of the lovers 9 movedownwardly in a manner permitting the disks 5 to move downwardly away from the teeth 6 as shown in Fig. 5. The disks thereupon spin with the governor mechanism on which they are supported. As the governor speed subsides, the weights gradually fall and lift the disks upward.

The top disk will first come into contact with the teeth 6 which engage in the holes 18 thereof. The lower disks will in like manner successively engage with the teeth as the rotation diminishes. When the governor stops, the levers 9 operate to hold the disks up a ainst the top 3 as illustrated in -Fig. 4. T e windows or openings 21 are so arranged relative to the teeth 6 and to the characters on the disks, that only letters show at certain windows, numerals at other windows, and signs and fi ures at other windows. Thls arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the apparatus illustrated, the character are each made with ten position holes 18. These holes with the cooperating teeth determine the number of different positions or chances such a disk may take, being ten in this case. The number of holes 18 can of course be varied as desired, as can also the number of teeth 6.

The ten position holes 18 divide each disk into ten unlform sectors such as represented at 22 in Fig. 2. If the outline of one character should occupy all the available display surface of such a sector, then only ten displays could be shown, the largest disk in the drawing showing such an arrangement. But if the size of the character is small enough, itwill permit a division of each sector into several sections, each providing space for a separate character, as shown in the smaller disks where three individual characters are shown for each sector.

As the designations of the characters are of different classes, each making its display only at the window or windows assigned for it, these characters in regard to their classes must take a definite position in each sector with regard also to the location of position holes 18.

In the drawing, the three left hand windows will only show figures, the three right hand ones only letters, the upper window signs and dashes, and the large lower wi. dow animal figures.

As the friction between the disks and thL i revolving governing device is very light, the revolving disks, if on a true axis, are quite apt on coming into contact with the fixed teeth on top, to come to a full sto before the teeth have a chance to enter t e posi= tion holes 18. This would leave the teeth resting on the disk surface between the position holes. To prevent this, the governor stem has been made partly eccentric at 13.

This provision imparts to the disks :1 continuous roundabout sliding movement under the teeth while the governor keeps rotating. This movement, althought slight and in the al ining of the characters hardly noticeable, is very effective in making all the teeth enter the position holes and assures the complete performance of the disks.

The frictional connection between the stem 7 and the cross piece 8 is to prevent spinning the governor at a speed greater than that necessary to operate the device. Were the stem connected positively to the cross iece, the governor might spin so fast as to e an unduly long time in coming to rest. The frictional connection prevents this action and the spring 14 is just strong enough to cause the proper impulse to be imparted to the governor when the stem is rotated.

The apparatus as described adapts itself to a great variety of subjects in the line of' plays and games' The numbers and si 'ns will form many combinations and examp es. The letters vand pictures produce an everchanging display, convenient for forming and spellin words and names which all together combine and offer a variety of gaming opportunities adaptable for amusement and as an aid to mental dexterity. By takin various other subjective characters suitable to this kind of apparatus, as in the line of printed matter or pictures and sketches, many other productions for entertaining and instructive exercise may easily be devised.

No particular heed has to .be taken for leveling this apparatus, as all its moving parts are in a balanced condition and it will tolerate quitean inclination from the level position without adverse interference in its operative performance.

The construction and arrangement herein described and shown, comprises a simple and preferred form of the invention, how ever I wish it understood that other changes and alterations are possible and may be re sorted to Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the constituent principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A game apparatus, comprising the combination ofa box, a rotary member therein, a plurality of disks on the member each having a plurality of characters thereon, a window opening in the box, a stem for rotating the member, and teeth on the box cooperating with the disks for stopping the rotation thereof in various positions wherein their characters will show through the open- 1n 2. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a box, a rotary member therein, a plurality of disks on the member each having a plurality of characters thereon, window openings in the box, a stem for rotating the member, and teeth on the box cooperating with holes in the disks for stopping the r0- tation thereof in various positions wherein their characters will show through the open ings, the arrangement of the characters, holes, windows and teeth being such that certain characters appear onlyat certain of the windows and other characters appear only at certain other of the windows when the disks are at rest with the teeth engaged in the holes.

3. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a box, a rotary member therein including governor controlled supporting means which is at .a lower position when the member is rotated than when the member is at rest, a plurality of disks on the sup porting means, each having a plurality of characters thereon, window openings in the box, a stem for rotating the member, and downwardl with the isks, for stopping the rotation thereof in various positions wherein their characters show throu h the openings, the disks being positioned below the teeth when the member is rotating and being raised 11 into engagement with the teeth when the member comes to rest.

4. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a box, a rotary member therein, a pair of levers mounted on horizontal pivots on the member, the outer ends of the levers being weighted and the inner ends thereof acting as a supporting means, a plurality of disks on the supporting means each having a plurality of characters thereon, a Window opening in the box, a stem for rotating the member, and downwardly extending teeth on the box cooperating with the disks for stopping the rotation thereof in various positions wherein their characters will show through the opening, the disks being positioned below the teeth when the member is rotated and being raised up into engagement when the member comes to rest.-

5. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a box, a fixed upwardly extending pin therein, a rotary member on the pin, a plurality of disks on the member each having a plurality of characters thereon, a window opening in the top of the box, a stem carried by t through the top of the box, and teeth depending downwardly from the top of the box and cooperating with holes in the disks for extending teeth cooperating.

e rotary member and extending stopping the rotation thereof in various positions wherein their characters will show throu h the opening.

6. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a box, a rotary member therein, a pluralit of disks on the member each having a p urality of characters thereon, a window opening in the top of the box, a stem connected to the member and exending upwardly through centrally disposed holes in the disks and to of the box, and teeth depending downwar y from the top of the box and cooperating with holes in the disks for stopping the rotation thereof in various posi tions wherein their characters will show through the opening, the portion of the stem extending through the disks being eccentric whereby to slide the disks laterally in a manner disposin the holes thereof in alignment with the teeth.

7. A game apparatus comprising the combination of a box, a rotary member therein including governor controlled supporting means which is at a lower position when the member is rotating than when the member is at rest, a plurality of disks on the supporting means each having a plurality of characters thereon, a window opening in the box, a stem frictionally connected to the member, 5 and downwardly extending teeth cooperating with the disks for stopping the rotation thereof in various positions wherein th'eir characters show through the openings, the disks being positioned low the teeth when the member is rotating and being raised up 10 into engagement with the teeth when the member comes to rest.

HERMAN WOLKE. 

